SCHOOLCHILDREN paid tribute to their beloved lollipop lady with a guard of honour.

Joan McLoughlin, 83, helped pupils of St Aloysius and Park View primary schools in Huyton cross the road for more than 40 years.

Staff, pupils, family and friends yesterday turned out to say farewell to “a lovely lady”.

The longest-serving member of Knowsley’s school crossing patrol team, Joan worked at the Oak Tree crossing in Liverpool Road and rarely took a day off sick in four decades.

A hushed silence fell over the pupils who lined the pavement in the bitter cold as the hearse carrying the coffin, which was surrounded by flowers bearing the letters “NAN”, arrived at St Aloysius Church.

Joan’s great-grandsons Jack Hale, 10, and eight-year-old Luis held up lollipop sticks in tribute to their great gran.

The mum-of-five passed away suddenly on January 18.

Her daughter Joan McGilton, 52, said: “She loved her Irish lottery and the last thing she did before she passed was get some money out of her bag for tickets.

“She loved doing the lottery and even attended the bingo at St Aloysius social club until she was unable to get out.

“She was just a fabulous lady, very kind and treated all her 11 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren the same, she had two more great-grandchildren on the way.”

In December 2008 Joan was awarded an MBE and travelled to Buckingham Palace where she received her honour from Prince Charles. She worked as a lollipop lady for 44 years and retired in July 2011.

Sheryl Wrigley, headteacher of St Aloysius, said: “She was loved and respected by all the children.